The five-door version of the Mahindra Thar, curiously dubbed the Thar Roxx, has officially arrived, and it seems to have taken the nation by storm. Shortly after its launch, it ignited hope on Dalal Street, with Mahindra stocks shooting up by 3 per cent. Leading brokerage firms have already predicted its dominance over the mid-size SUV market, which begs the question—just which SUV does the Thar compete with? And whose sales is it likely to cannibalise?
The Thar Roxx essentially takes the rugged, recreational off-roader aspect of the three-door version and marries it to a family-friendly, grand touring SUV. In many ways, it is peerless, towering (physically) over the likes of even the imperious Toyota Fortuner, offering cavernous levels of interior space, impeccable fit and finish and excellent noise insulation. In addition it gets a laundry list of tech features that elevate it above the ranks of several existing SUVs.
How the Mahindra Thar Roxx stacks-up against potential rivals
1. Mahindra Scorpio-N
It’s a rare occasion for a brand where the biggest competition for its bestselling models comes from within its own stable, but such is the case with the Thar Roxx and the Scorpio-N. Both SUVs are traditional ladder-frame ones and get the same powertrain options. While the Scorpio-N makes a bit more power and torque, the Thar offers more legroom for the rear passenger. However, the Scorpio-N is longer and offers three-row seating and tan leather upholstery. But even so, the Thar now offers a wider list of features, including a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, a larger 10.25-inch display screen and an instrument cluster, so it’s a close call. A lot of it comes down to form factor, a round which the Thar Roxx wins, hands down.
Price: Rs 13.85 lakh onwards (ex-showroom)
2. Mahindra Thar 3-door
